Police: Three Children Decapitated In Baltimore Apartment

Authorities Speaking With Person Of Interest

Police reported that three children were decapitated in a northwest Baltimore apartment Thursday afternoon.

Sky Team 11 reported over the 7000 block of Park Heights Avenue where, police said, three children were murdered in a first-floor apartment complex.

One child was 6 years old and another was 9 years old. The age of the third child was not reported; however, police told 11 News that all of the children are under the age of 10.

Police are speaking with a person of interest who they said had a running disagreement with the family. But it is not clear if the person is a part of that family, WBAL-TV 11 News reporter John Sherman reported.

Baltimore City Police Deputy Commissioner Kenneth Blackwell told 11 News that the children's mother found the children in the apartment sometime around 5:40 p.m.

Apparently, the mother does not speak English, but she rushed to a neighbor who then called police, Sherman reported.

"We see this as an isolated incident," Blackwell said. "Neighbors have no reason to be concerned (about their safety)."

The first officer on the scene "couldn't handle it" and had to give the call to another officer, Blackwell said. "Walking in on a scene, seeing children of that tender age in that condition, certainly breaks your heart.

"I've been around for 35 years and I've seen, unfortunately, my share of murders, but I've never seen something as bad as this. It really tugs at your heartstrings," he said.

Al Johnson, who lives in the apartment complex near where the children were found, said she heard the mother screaming and called 911.

"They freely run around," Johnson said of the children. "No one watches them because it's such a safe place. It's really hard to believe.

"They were very nice, cordial kids. It's such a shock to everyone. It's a very quiet, peaceful community."

Johnson said there are "three or four" Hispanic families in the complex who are very close.

"This is a neighborhood where there are a lot of observant Jews, so many people are on foot," said Roger Stanley, 45, who lives around corner from the apartment complex.

"It's very safe. A lot of people in the neighborhood don't know the people living in this complex. This is more of a transient place. It's shocking, especially in a neighborhood like this," Stanley said.

Matt Teichman, 17, a student at Talmudical Academy, was returning home from prayers when he heard the sirens and saw police.

"We walk here late at night and we usually feel safe," he said. "Now, I don't know what to feel. I can't really believe it."

Daniel Norris took a three-hitter into the eighth inning in his Detroit debut, J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer and the Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 on Sunday to earn a split of the four-game series.